Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-02
THE BOOM CONTINUES.

The Wonderful Town Of Wichita, Kan.
and It's Remarkable Growth.
Special Correspon ence Of tho Cleveland fo) Leader
WICHITA, Kan, Feb 9-Well am still
in this wonderful city of Wichita, charmed
into extending my stay by the great hustle
and hustle, by the splendid climate, and
suppose must acknowledge that l have
caught some of the spirit and enthusiasm
of the Wichita citizens. IL making in
quiries among the contractors and builders,
find that already they have taken more
contracts than they will be able to fulfill
during the coming spring and summer.
Among those to be found Oh their books is
q fine opera house, the Garfield university,
the Ladies college, the Wichita university,
| the Catholic college, and besides these al
ready contracted for, the Quakers have
decided to erect a 100000 institution to
be known as the John Bright
University. 1t will be a state and national
institution, and promises to take high po-
sillOn. Then yesterday the Baplists OF the
state met and decided to erect u large col
lege in Wichita, and have promise of fine
endowment. Truly Wichita will not be
behind in educational matters. About two
hundred five and six story brick and stone
business buildings arc TO be built, together
with about two thousand residences, among
which latter we'll be some that will certain
ly be classed as mansions. A number OF
large wholesale houses are under contract.
together with several large factories and
manufacturing establishments Now. then,
add TO all this the building into the city of
the Rrck Island railroad, the Midland, from
the Nebraska line, the Kansas City and
Wichita Short Line, the Wichita s. &C.
daryale, the Wichita e Winfield, the
Kansas. Texas & Colorado, and probably
others-the building of their depots. freight
houses, and shops. Don't you think Wich
ita will flourish this summer? Besides all
this, the American Water Works Company
having bought the water works OF this city,
will lay about fifteen miles Of pipe, build
new reservoir and a new pumping station.
AS a gentleman remarked the other day,
the great difficulty will be in getting men
to do the work. Brick and stonemasons,
carpenters. and laborers are in great de-
mand and get good wages. In fact con
tractors and builders are needed here, and
ten or twenty more would find more to do
than they could attend to. They also need
more brick yards and more brick makers.
/ have been studying the matter somewhat
us TO what branches of trade aud industry
are in demand here, and give the results for
the benefit of those who are looking fOi
more profitable work than they now have.
A paper mill would do well here. as every
thing needed is very cheap and plentiful. A
wholesale notion store, a wholesale drug
store, wholesale boot and shoe stOre-in
fact, a boot and shoe factory-wOuld be
very successful enterprises We also need
a wholesale jewelry store a wholesale stove
store, a stove foundry. glass manufac
tory. and carriage factory Wholesaling
in any department is not 0verdone. and any
branch will admit of one more house.
Garden farmers would find this one of the
best cities in the country for their branch
of trade. as there is a great scarcity of this
class. The soil and climate are all that
could be wished for. and the supply of
garden truck is very limited. Anyone
making specially of celery would make Il
fortune To tell the truth, | find no
branch OF business Over-crowded, and can't
help but advise those who are contemplat
ing going west" TO at least take a look at
Wichita and its advantages The farmers
are now blowing, this 9th day of Febru
airy; the roads are splendid; nice
spring like weather prevails. and the ma
sons trowel and the carpenters hammer
are heard all over the city. Only a few
days this winter have been too cold to work
out doors. The city is to be supplied with
rapid transit in the shape of two separate
motor lines of street railway These will
will make suburban property very desira-
al n, .,,ff h., nj no, fxr,.,
miles from the center, is what is known as
college Hill," a beautiful elevation, from
which fine view of the city can be OBJ
tanned. Here all the wealthy and better
class of people have bought lots consist
ing of from one to two acres each,
and will, during the spring and sum-
mer, erect beautiful and costly
houses 1t will he the fashionable and
aristocratic part Of the city. Already a
number of fine dwellings can be seen out
lined on the eastern horizon. and il is esti-
mated that at least one hundred mansions
will be built there this summer Every
body is expecting a wonderful boom in
property there in the next few weeks 1t
will have two, and perhaps four colleges
located on its brow. and the yards being so
large and capable of improvement, will GER
'ainly give it the advantage over the valley
for residence properly.
II is estimated that the influx of settlers
to the city is now at the rate of from four
to eight hundred per month. and the great
difficulty is in securing a place 10 live.
Probably no better investment for eastern
men could be made than 10 come here aud
erect tenement houses The demand is
for good class of houses. and the Tents
pay big return on the investment. Lest
tire your readers will close.
OHIO TRAVELLER.
TRULY AN OASIS.